Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his end-of-the-year news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec 19, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at his annual press conference on Tuesday that "no one knows" when the Russia-Ukraine conflict will end.

Commenting on Ukraine's achievements in the conflict in 2023 during a press conference aired live by Ukraine's public broadcaster Suspilne, Zelensky said that Ukraine gained a "major victory" in the Black Sea.

"In Ukraine and abroad, everyone can appreciate that the Russian fleet was deprived of their total dominance in the Ukrainian Black Sea," Zelensky said, insisting that Russia "hasn't achieved any of its goals" this year.

Asked about the prospects of joining parts of Ukraine to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the option is out of the table due to certain risks

While speaking on Ukraine's counteroffensive, Zelensky said the fact that Ukraine didn't control the sky and didn't have enough ammunition had impacted the military operations in the southern regions this year.

Zelensky said that military commanders have offered him to mobilize an additional 450,000-500,000 soldiers to participate in Ukraine's defense and potential counteroffensive operations, but the decision on their mobilization has not been approved yet.

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Asked about the prospects of joining parts of Ukraine to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Zelensky said the option is out of the table due to certain risks.

Zelensky also noted that Kiev has not received any official proposals regarding the "partial accession" to the alliance.

Commenting on strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities, Zelensky said that soon his country will receive several new Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems from its partners.

Besides, next year, Ukraine plans to produce about 1 million drones, Zelensky said.

Grain is unloaded from plastic silo bags at a handling and storage facility in central Ukraine, Nov 10, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

Exports via alternative Black Sea corridor

Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Tuesday that Ukraine's exports via the alternative "humanitarian corridor" in the Black Sea have reached 10 million tons since August.

During the operation of the new corridor, 302 ships left Ukraine while 337 entered the country's ports, Kubrakov wrote on Facebook.

Currently, Ukraine exports about 5 million tons of agricultural products per month via the alternative sea route in the Black Sea, while in the first month of the corridor's operation, those exports stood at 278,000 tons, said Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov

According to him, those vessels delivered grain and other goods from Ukraine to 24 countries.

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Currently, Ukraine exports about 5 million tons of agricultural products per month via the alternative sea route, while in the first month of the corridor's operation, those exports stood at 278,000 tons, Kubrakov said.

In August, Ukraine established a "humanitarian corridor" for cargo ships in the Black Sea as an alternative to the Black Sea Grain Initiative that collapsed in July.

READ MORE: Ukraine's grain, oilseeds exports may fall by third this year

Last week, Kubrakov said that the operation of Ukrainian Black Sea ports may add 8 percent to the country's gross domestic product next year by boosting Ukraine's agricultural and metallurgical exports, which have decreased since the start of the conflict with Russia.