"We aren't living in 2014"

The war has been continuous since 2014. The entire time Russia has been pushing to invade more territory, with continuous fighting every single day.

If your argument is that it is now a "proxy war" simply because other countries decided to help Ukraine, you're arguing that no-one deserves to be helped with a defense.

Is it a "proxy war" if the police show up after you report that a gang is trying to invade your home? Is it a "proxy war" if I give a woman cash to buy a gun after someone attempts to rape her?