KYIV

“YOU GOTTA BE SHITTIN’ me!”

These are said to be the words of a Ukrainian colonel who has already lost two thirds of his command when told he had to give back half the US supplied equipment so that it could be shipped to Israel.

The Americans are now so short of military equipment to send to allies that they are said to be thinking of buying from China.

“Hey it’s cheap and plentiful and most of it is copied from us,” said an American spokesman. “It’s either this or we go to the Russians. Not good.”

Beijing refused to say if any approach has yet been made.