Supporting Ukraine is disrupting European food markets..

 via Stars & Stripes

Slovakia became the third European Union country to ban food imports from Ukraine on Monday, deepening the challenge for the bloc as it works to help Ukraine transport its grain to world markets.

Slovakia followed Poland and Hungary, both of which announced bans Saturday on Ukrainian food imports through June 30. They did so in response to rising anger from farmers who say that a glut of grain in their countries is causing them economic hardship. (NOTE* The EU is particularly sensitive to the plight of its farmers after the massive protests earlier over European climate change regulations/targets that practically gutted their farms)

The EU's executive branch, the European Commission, manages trade on behalf of the 27 member countries and objects to them taking unilateral or uncoordinated measures.

At a briefing in Brussels, two spokespeople stressed gratitude to Poland and other Central European countries for supporting Ukraine, but said a solution must be found that respects the EU legal framework.

"We are dealing with a war, right? And this war has consequences, obviously, on farmers and more generally, the population in Ukraine and the European Union and its member states," said Eric Mamer, chief spokesperson.

Here 

Shit is getting real for Europe now.  It took alot longer than I thought but its hitting.

Let me hit you with this.

Russia is being supplied by China.  If you think they're not providing lethal support then you're not paying attention.  Additionally the Chinese Defense Minister was just in Russia meeting with his counterpart and Putin, the Russian SecState was in Brazil and China is playing nice with neighbors in the Pacific.

We're seeing a full court press on the diplomatic and military fronts.

For all intents and purposes we're beyond the "competition" stage already.

Full bore gray zone activity?

I think so.

Opening moves of WW3?  Possibly.  Historians will have the final say but the drumbeat of war is picking up in my opinion (and that doesn't count what we're seeing in the Middle East - China brokered a peace deal that harvested the return of POWs).

If our leadership ever decides to match its words to action then we will start seeing complete societal mobilization soon.

Sidenote.  I believe Macron's moves indicate that he sees the same and wants to get ahead of the dustup he sees coming.