The UN envoy for Syria plans a resumption of peace talks "as soon as feasible" between the government and opposition, but he set no new date and expects that it will "certainly not" come within the next two to three weeks, his office said Thursday, May 26, according to the Associated Press.
De Mistura, in a closed-door videoconference briefing to the UN Security Council, "reiterated the need to see progress on the ground — particularly in reference to the cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access," his office said in a statement.
"He briefed on his intention to start the next round of talks as soon as feasible but certainly not within the next two/three weeks," it said.
In New York, U.S. ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said Washington shared the "frustrations and concerns" of de Mistura, and pointed a finger at Russia — which has backed Assad's forces.
"It is clear that violence has increased in the past month and is nearing pre-cessation of hostilities levels. It is also clear that the dangers to the cessation are largely being driven by the Syrian regime and its allies and attacks on civilians," she said, according to AP.
"Russia has special responsibility to press the Assad regime to abide by the cessation of hostility and end its bombardment and siege of innocent civilians," Power added.
