The Syrian government is willing to suspend its bombardment of Aleppo so that a local ceasefire can be tested, the UN mediator on Syria has said.
The progress of government troops, who say they have the rebels in the northern city surrounded, is however at odds with the proposal.
Staffan de Mistura told the UN security council that Damascus was ready to declare a six-week ceasefire.
Forces loyal to the country’s president, Bashar al-Assad, have made a pincer movement in the area, aiming to seal off a key supply line that stretches from Turkey into opposition-held territory.
On Wednesday the Syrian military said it had taken control of various areas of countryside north of Aleppo, killing and wounding dozens of rebels and cutting off an escape route to Turkey.
“The army has now created a cordon around the terrorist outposts attacking residents in Aleppo city,” an army statement said.