Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a direct personal appeal to the American people over the Syrian crisis.
In an opinion article in the New York Times, he warns that a US military strike against Syria could unleash a new wave of terrorism.
He says millions of people see the US not as a model of democracy but as relying on brute force.
Later on Thursday, the US and Russia are due to hold talks in Geneva on Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.
Moscow, an ally of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has proposed putting the weapons under international control.
The proposal - which Damascus has agreed to - led US President Barack Obama to put military action against Syria on hold in favour of diplomacy.
The US blames the Syrian government for a chemical weapons attack near Damascus last month that killed hundreds. Syria blames the attack on rebels.
As the diplomatic efforts continue, the Syrian army has been trying to retake the Christian town of Maaloula which was overrun by rebel forces - including members of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front - at the weekend.
The BBC's Jeremy Bowen, who is in Maaloula, says fighting has been continuing despite earlier reports that government forces had retaken the town.
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