The negotiations, which took place by video conference, were the fourth round involving higher-level officials from the two countries and the first held in a week.

Previous discussions, held in person in Belarus, did not produce lasting humanitarian routes or agreements to end the fighting in Ukraine.

``A technical pause has been taken in the negotiations until tomorrow,`` Podolyak wrote on Twitter. ``Negotiations continue.''

He said earlier that ``communication is being held, yet it's hard.''