The United Nations' Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura says failure to reach a peace deal quickly through the UN mediation in Syria can lead to fragmentation of the country.
Speaking on Swiss television station RTS, he urged Russia to convince the Syrian government to clinch a peace deal with opposition groups, to end the nearly seven-year-old war.
He said the peace negotiations must be through the United Nations in Geneva, as mandated by the U.N. Security Council.
De Mistura said the opposition groups are ready for talks but the government is hesitant.