Klaus Wittmann, a retired Bundeswehr brigadier general and lecturer in contemporary history at the University of Potsdam, said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"Several European countries, including Spain and Greece, still have stocks of Patriot missiles," Wittmann said.

According to him, Germany has previously tried to persuade allies to transfer their existing stocks to Ukraine.

"Last year or the year before, Germany tried – and this must be acknowledged – through [Defense Minister Boris] Pistorius and the foreign minister, in particular, to persuade countries that still have these stocks that Ukraine is now the front line," Wittmann said.

He cited Denmark as an example, saying the country had transferred a significant portion of its military resources to Ukraine.

"Denmark, for example, transferred a large part of its military assets to Ukraine because the prime minister said: if the front in Ukraine does not hold, we will be next," Wittmann said.

In his opinion, countries that still have stocks of Patriot missiles should be guided by the same logic.

"Ukraine is the front line, and it is buying us time. I always put it somewhat dramatically: Ukraine is fighting a war that we – for now! – do not have to fight ourselves," he said.

The general added that "a short-term option would be for these countries to transfer Patriot missiles."

At the same time, Wittmann pointed out that new air and missile defense systems cannot deliver immediate results.

"There are also new Ukrainian developments and the FREYJA program to counter ballistic missiles, which Ukraine is advancing jointly with European partners. But all of this takes time and is not a solution for today or tomorrow," he added.

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According to him, U.S. stocks of interceptors have also likely been significantly depleted.

"U.S. Patriot stocks are also apparently seriously depleted. A lot of missiles were expended during the war with Iran, and producing new ones takes time," Wittmann said.

Against this backdrop, he once again stressed the need not only to intercept Russian missiles but also to prevent the launches themselves.

"That is why I return to the point that everything possible must be done to prevent the launches themselves, rather than simply reacting once the missiles are already in the air," the general said.

He also called for greater international pressure on Russia.

"In addition, the aggressor must be exposed and condemned much more actively, and public pressure on Russia over this criminal way of waging war must be significantly increased," Wittmann said.

He also commented separately on the role of the U.S. president.

"If Trump believes and keeps saying that he has influence over Putin, then let him finally demonstrate it and say: Stop! He has already said that, but then immediately took his words back," the general said.

Photo: NATO