NATO was formed to counter Soviet Communism. With the fall of the Soviet Union, there is no need for NATO. The Europeans have all but abandoned their commitments. Because they know America will come fight for them, they defunded their militaries. Then they used the money they saved to compete against the US economically.

It might not be NATO declaring war. However every Country that has provided lethal aid to Ukraine has declared war on Russia.

You don't smack someone in the mouth and expect not to get hit back, but these countries are doing just that. Virtue signaling in real life has real life consequences.

Countries like Russia have a very long memory.

The actions like booting Russia from SWIFT has already been described by Russia as an act of war in the past. They don't need to repeat those claims to make them true today.

This teaming up large and small against one Country isn't going to break them, it's going to drive them to further extremes.

Russia as cool as they project they are, are not the Soviet Union of old. They don't have the same resources and equipment they once had to throw at a large scale conflict for a prolonged period.

If this goes on too long or is complicated by other countries joining the fight, Russia will have to turn to stronger munitions and tactics to maintain the upper hand.

That means more civilian deaths, more cities leveled to achieve their goals, but from Russia's standpoint they can't turn back now.

They're not capable of pushing through all of Europe without going Nuclear though.

However, if Europe continues contributing to this conflict, they definitely should be prepared to reap what they are today sowing.