Russia denies chemical weapon attack in Syria, warns against U.S. retaliation

Russia has flat-out denied that a chemical weapon attack took place in Syria over the weekend, and issued an ominous warning against any retaliatory action.

Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Monday that Moscow has warned the United States of “grave repercussions” if it carries out an attack against Syrian government forces over reports of a deadly chemical weapons attack.

“There was no chemical weapons attack,” Nebenzia told the U.N. Security Council.

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“Through the relevant channels we already conveyed to the U.S. that armed force under mendacious pretext against Syria – where, at the request of the legitimate government of a country, Russian troops have been deployed – could lead to grave repercussions,” he said.

WATCH: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley was pushing for a UN inquiry into the Syrian chemical attacks on Monday

2:50 U.S. pushes for UN inquiry into Syrian chemical attacks

The suspected chemical weapons attack late Saturday night killed at least 60 people and injured more than 1,000 in several sites in Douma, a city near the capital Damascus, according to a Syrian aid organization.

President Donald Trump said Monday has was deciding what action the U.S. will take in response to the “heinous attack.”

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the council that Washington “will respond” to the attack on a rebel-held town in Syria regardless of whether the United Nations Security Council acts or not.

“We have reached the moment when the world must see justice done,” Haley told the council.

“History will record this as the moment when the Security Council either discharged its duty or demonstrated its utter and complete failure to protect the people of Syria,” she said. “Either way, the United States will respond.”

WATCH: Victims of suspected gas attack in Syria hosed down as Damascus denies

0:41 Victims of suspected gas attack in Syria hosed down as Damascus denies

British U.N. Ambassador Karen Pierce told reporters ahead of the meeting that Britain “would prefer to start with a proper investigation,” but all options were on the table and London was in close contact with its allies the United States and France.

UN Security Council holds emergency meeting in wake of suspected chemical attack in Syria

1:30 UN Security Council holds emergency meeting in wake of suspected chemical attack in Syria

Nebenzia also said that investigators with the global chemical weapons watchdog should fly to Syria as early as Tuesday to look into accusations about the attack, offering them protection from Syrian authorities and Russian troops.

“The Syrian authorities and Russian troops will provide conditions to travel to the areas of the alleged incident for them to familiarize themselves with the situation,” he said.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said it had opened an investigation to determine what exactly had happened in Douma.

WATCH: ‘This is about humanity’: Trump condemns Syria suspected chemical attack

1:36 ‘This is about humanity’: Trump condemns Syria suspected chemical attack

— Reporting by Michelle Nichols, editing by Alistair Bell. With files from Global News