2020 was actually sufficient for hostile actions to be taken and the hot war just didn't start yet.

I don't see this historical spirit being applied in the century XXI against anybody besides Russia. And it's not like there is no wars.

You are trying to frame escalations into some legalistic framework, but it only works domestically. Internationally, it is "you punch us, we punch you, we stab you, you stab us". No empty words are necessary and may cause additional violence in response.