The conflict between the exiled Yemeni government and Houthi rebels has killed nearly 6,000 people and displaced more than two million others.
Efforts by the United Nations to ease the violence in Yemen have been stalled for months.
In March, a pro-government coalition led by Saudi Arabia backed the exiled government of Yemeni President Abd- Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Since then they've been bombarding positions held by the Houthis, a rebel group supported by Iran who rule the capital, Sanaa, and other cities with the help of Yemeni army allies.
But the UN's special envoy to Yemen, Ould Cheikh Ahmed, says both sides are now committed to discussing the terms of Resolution 2216 - a peace process laid down by the Security Council last April.
"The parties have agreed to all peace talks on 15 December, in Switzerland. I have been strongly encouraging the parties to work on confidence-building measures, including implementing a ceasefire, releasing of prisoners and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian supplies that would constitute positive steps in the effort to lessen tensions and ease the path to a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Yemen."
The UN says more than 20 million Yemenis -- more than 80 per cent of the population -- are in need of at least basic humanitarian aid as a result of the conflict.
Yves Daccord is the Director of Operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
He says international humanitarian law remains under threat in several conflict zones, including Yemen.
"Any solutions which somewhat push Yemen a bit more closer to peace is something positive. Anything, right? I just hope that all the parties involved in this conflict will be around the table, that's what is critical. Yemen needs absolutely a time of peace. The situation is so difficult for the people right now that I really hope that things will move in the right direction."
Resolution 2216 calls on all sides to end the violence and avoid unilateral actions that jeopardize a political transition.
But it also demands the Houthis withdraw from all areas seized since the conflict began in September last year.
That's led to claims that the Houthis have been trying to stall the talks by refusing to name who will attend them.
But Mr Ahmed remains confident Houthi representatives will be in Switzerland next week.
"We know that a long-term ceasefire will require much more preparation, will require a mechanism of monitoring, etc, which may take us a little bit longer to put in place, but in the meantime we are sure that we will have a ceasefire, we are almost sure, I would say, we are very optimistic."
Mr Ahmed says representatives for President Hadi's government will also be there, along with officials from the General People's Congress-- who are mostly loyalists to Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The announcement has followed the killing of Jaafar Saad, the governor of Yemen's second city, Aden.
A statement was issued, purportedly from IS militants, claiming to have detonated a car packed with explosives as the governor's convoy passed by.
The group has increased its operations in Yemen since the civil war began and vows to carry out more attacks.
That, Mr Ahmed says, gives the peace talks even more urgency.
"The heinous killing of the governor of Aden, which I strongly condemn, is a painful illustration of the dangers Yemen is facing if we don't go quickly to the negotiation table."
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