The previous two world wars did not begin as a response to a single flash point but as the result of a gradual buildup of tensions and regional conflicts over a period of years that ultimately expanded into a general war that engulfed most powers in the global north. As western powers like England, France and the U.S. fell complacent and struck appeasing tones with aggressor nations like Germany, Russia and Japan in order to try to avoid becoming engulfed in shooting wars, the aggressors grew bolder until general conflict became unavoidable.
This is the exact progression that is underway globally today, and which has been underway since the Deep State chose to install a semi-functional sock puppet in the White House in January 2021. That act, and the feckless Biden/Blinkin/Obama foreign policy that followed, encouraged Putin to believe he could invade Ukraine and conquer the territories he desired in about 10 days, and the rest that has happened since is, as they say, history. Highly predictable history at that.