Want to unsync Desktop & Documents but dont want to lose unsynced files

Hey,

I have been running into problems which I believe are being caused by the iCloud drive syncing. Firstly, I edit my video projects from my desktop where i store all the source files. Due to Desktop & Documents being checked all files i put on my desktop gets uploaded to my iCloud drive, which fills up quickly and stops me from using the files that are in the process of being synced/uploaded on Premier Pro.

I want to to unsync my Desktop from iCloud but i get the message 'If you continue, items will be removed from the Desktop and the Documents folder on this Mac and will remain available in iCloud Drive.'

My concern is that if i unsync will the the files that are in the process of being uploaded be deleted as well because from my understanding is that the the Desktop gets cleared and you have to download the files back from the iCloud drive, but if they have not synced they wont be in the iCloud drive?

I have also tried to back all the files up on a external hard dive before I unsync but due to the files being uploaded to the iCloud drive they wont transfer ver to my hard drive.

Any suggestions?