The UN's deputy envoy for Syria said Thursday that he hoped peace talks could resume in the coming weeks, despite "grim" events on the ground. 

Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy said his boss, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, was in discussion with warring parties to organise "direct negotiations", a departure from past rounds where the sides met separately with moderators. 

The UN is working "with a view to holding these talks hopefully in the next few weeks."