Article five doesn’t go into effect unless an outside power (ie.. Russia) attacks a NATO Nation. But, not if Nato attacks first. If Turkey attacks Syria, and Syria hits Ankara, NATO need not join in the fight. Poland hits Russia and moves in to help Ukraine—and Russia nukes Warsaw—It would not be an article Five tripwire. Germany need not help, nor would France. This thing could get real bad, real fast.
See 31.
You can throw out the rules. The current governments all over the world just act in the moment.