Yemen peace talks ended in Geneva on Friday with no concrete progress, but the United Nations voiced optimism that a new round of talks could lead to a much needed ceasefire.

"There was no agreement," said the UN's special envoy for Yemen, Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who added that if a new round of talks were held, an agreement on a ceasefire could be achieved "pretty soon".

No date had been set for new talks, he said.