Aleppo airstrikes: Al-Qatarji
Syrians evacuate an injured man amid rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji, in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Ameer Alhalb/ AFP

Russia and the US are exploring options to extend the ceasefire in volatile Aleppo in Syria as efforts are on to thoroughly implement the truce. In a fresh bid to halt fighting in the war-torn country, US Secretary of State John Kerry is in Geneva to hold talks with all parties concerned.

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The topmost priority of the negotiations is stopping the fighting in the northern province of Aleppo, which was once the country's commercial capital. The Arab League is also mulling to discuss the situation.

"Currently active negotiations are underway to establish a 'regime of calm' in Aleppo province," said Lieutenant-General Sergei Kuralenko, according to Russian media outlets. It is still unclear who is negotiating on Russia's behalf.

In recent weeks, the US has been exhorting Russia to put more pressure on the Syrian regime headed by President Bashar al-Assad to include Aleppo in the ceasefire arrangement. The province, which has been gripped by increasing violence in recent weeks, is not currently included in the US-Russia-brokered temporary-but-fragile ceasefire, which has been in effect across Syria. However, Moscow has remained reluctant, arguing that main fighting groups active in the province are not part of the truce agreement.

Kerry is expected to talk to not only UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura, but also foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The Geneva talks are also being threatened as vital opposition groups warn of withdrawing.

"We are talking directly to the Russians, even now," said Kerry upon his arrival in Geneva and added, "These are critical hours. We look for Russia's co-operation. We obviously look for the regime to listen to Russia and to respond to the international communities' powerful statement to the UN Security Council."

In the last 10 days, more than 250 people have been killed in Aleppo with pro- and anti-government forces refusing to back down. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 40 children were killed in the violence. While anti-Assad rebels shelled government-controlled towns, forces loyal to Assad dropped barrel bombs in several parts of the province.