The US and Russia are returning to the negotiating table in another attempt to secure a truce in Syria.
This time Turkish, Saudi, Qatari and Iranian ministers will join the US Secretary of State and his Russian counterpart to include the most powerful backers of Syria’s government and rebels.
The Russian Foreign Minister said he had no special expectations going into discussions.
It comes three weeks after a US-Russia backed ceasefire collapsed, and the Syrian government, backed by Moscow, renewed its assault on Aleppo.
Relations between Washington and Moscow had hit a new low after the truce failed. Both accuse the other of breaking the terms of the agreement.
With casualties rising in the besieged city, the UN Syria peace envoy offered to remove Islamist militants from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham out of the city if it would allow the government to agree to a ceasefire with the remaining rebels.
But in an interview on Friday, the Syrian president made his intention to recapture Aleppo clear.
