Russia said Moscow, Washington and the United Nations will hold Syria talks in Geneva as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict are ratcheted up. The announcement has been made by Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov. UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura is set to take part in the talks aimed at ending a brutal war that has killed more than 250,000 people and forced millions from their homes since March 2011. Representatives from Syria’s fragmented opposition began a two-day closed-door meeting in Saudi Arabia to seek a united front for potential talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The meeting was the first time a broad range of Syrian political and armed opposition factions have come together since the conflict erupted. Diplomats from 17 countries have held two meetings in Vienna since October to agree on a roadmap to end the war.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said he would visit Moscow as Russia and the United States work to forge a framework for a Syrian ceasefire and political transition.

Moscow has sought, so far without success, to persuade nations in the US-led coalition that opposes Assad to work with its own forces flying a bombing campaign in Syria and with Damascus in a broader coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group.