MOSCOW, Nov 21 (Reuters) - In a press conference held in Moscow on Tuesday, Russian Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik reiterated that Russia cannot coexist with the current regime in Kyiv, expressing the need for a special military operation to "demilitarise" Ukraine.

This statement comes as President Vladimir Putin's decision to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022 has caused a serious conflict between Russia and the West, triggering a war in Europe reminiscent of the Cold War era.

Addressing reporters, Miroshnik emphasized that the current regime in Kyiv is deemed "absolutely toxic," leaving no room for any potential coexistence at the moment. He further stressed that his post was created to gather evidence regarding alleged Ukrainian crimes against civilians.

However, Miroshnik's assertions are met with opposing views from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has ruled out talks with Putin but remains open to discussions with Russia. The Ukrainian government has accused Russian forces of committing war crimes on its territory, including deliberate targeting of civilians and infrastructure in air strikes.

Meanwhile, international bodies have raised concerns over the actions of Russian forces in Ukraine. A U.N.-mandated entity has documented war crimes allegedly committed by Russian forces, while the International Criminal Court has even issued an arrest warrant for President Putin for the illegal deportation of hundreds of children from Ukraine.

In response to these allegations, Russia, which does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing on Putin's part.

Miroshnik further asserted that Russia would resist NATO for as long as necessary to defeat Ukrainian forces, predicting that the West's interest would wane over time, eventually leading to the collapse of the Kyiv leadership. However, Kyiv has made it clear that it will continue fighting until every Russian soldier has left its territory, with the support of its Western allies.

As tensions escalate, the international community watches closely to see how the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will unfold, with no immediate resolution in sight.

(Date format: November 21, 2022)