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Ukraine says it wants an immediate ceasefire and Russia's withdrawal of troops as talks resume. A top negotiator said only then could regional relations and political differences be discussed

• Fourth round of Ukraine-Russia talks on "technical pause" until Tuesday
• Refugee exodus reaches 2.8 million
• Zelenskyy says Kyiv's negotiators pushing for direct talks with Putin
• Ukraine's army expects fresh attacks by Russian forces
• Ukrainian officials to try to evacuate more citizens through corridors

UNHCR Ukraine emergency response raises $200 million

Companies, foundations and philanthropists have donated $200 million (roughly €183 million) to the UN Refugee Agency's Ukraine emergency response, the UNHCR agency said in a statement on its website.

The UNHCR said that it was urgently appealing for $510 million (€466 million) "to provide initial emergency assistance to those displaced inside the country and for refugees throughout the region."

The agency said that the contributions allowed it to "respond quickly" since the start of the crisis by organizing airlift and truck convoys of assistance for displaced people. The agency has also provided "emergency cash assistance to those in need so they can find shelter, warmth, and food."

Former Kremlin official, FIDE chief slams war

The head of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Arkady Dvorkovich decried the war in Ukraine.

Dvorkovich, who served as the Kremlin's top economic advisor before moving to deputy prime minister between 2012 and 2018, told the Mother Jones magazine his thoughts were with Ukrainian civilians.

The 49-year-old also notably used the word "war" to describe the conflict, which all the current Russian officials describe as a "special military operation."

"Wars are the worst things one might face in life," he was quoted as saying to the US magazine.

Dvorkovich added that wars do more than claim lives.

"Wars kill hopes and aspirations, freeze or destroy relationships and connections," he said.

As one of the sports federations with the closest financial and personnel ties to Russia, following decades where Russian and former Soviet chess players were either dominant or among the best in the world, FIDE has been put in a particularly sensitive position by the conflict.

Russia suspends grain exports to several neighboring nations

Russian authorities were halting grain exports to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in addition to Russia itself. The Russian government was also temporarily stopping the exports of white sugar and raw sugar to countries outside the bloc.

The move comes amid fears that the war in Ukraine would disrupt the food supply in Europe. Russian officials said the suspension on grain would stay in place until the end of June, while restrictions on exporting sugar would last until the end of August this year.

"The decision was made to protect the internal food market in the conditions of external limits," they said.