Russian pilots flew against the US during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. I don't recall WWIII starting over that.
Much cleaner and easier...and most effective to send our own
ground-air equipment to Ukraine, covertly.
Then go on the offensive and give money to the Chechnyans to hit the Russian people throughout Russia.
That’s how you play with Putin...dirty and covertly. Meanwhile we ratchet up the economic sanctions to more serious levels.
Vietnam and Korea aren't on Russia's front door step like Ukraine. A war with Russia doesn't have to be a World war and it doesn't have to be nuclear but it could still be very devastating. Why should we have any war with Russia?