It's different because the US Congress hasn't technically declared it. I agree with you that it hardly matters though. That said, I wouldn't think to supply weapons for war unless I was at war, and I'd certainly figure out what the fuck they're being used for before committing to supply them. And if there are standards (only these targets that I support), you're basically at fucking war. I don't think the president should have such unilateral power, but I believe Congress approved such funding.
Discussion
If I’m Russia and I’m looking at this, all I see is US supplying weapons to bomb me - same as going to war against me. I could care less what the US laws state and who has to declare what.
Absolutely agree. But from the US perspective, why involve Americans if they can just give weapons to someone already in that fight?
But there is still a difference in that Americans coming at Russia full on (with serious intent to end conflict quickly) would destroy Russia, in my opinion. They're better off having us just do what we are. They could get mouthy about it and lose faster I guess.
One could ask why get involved at all and that would be a fair question.