(VOVworld) - Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations envoy for Syria, has arrived in Damascus and will meet Syria's foreign minister on Tuesday to discuss the resumption of peace talks on Syria in Geneva.

UN mediator for Syria Staffan de Mistura during a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland on February 1, 2016. (Photo: Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

De Mistura is making the surprise visit as world powers push for a ceasefire in the Syrian conflict that will let humanitarian aid be delivered in Syria. He suspended peace talks in Geneva last week after only three days, but hopes to bring parties back to the negotiating table by next Thursday.

The same day Russia criticized Turkey’s shelling at Kurdish positions and the Syrian government in the north Syria, considering it a provocative act. Moscow said the move will excite international terrorist groups.