Not certain of if a distinction between the two. I simply chose the title because it works better for SEO.

I think you bring up an important distinction though, and I sort of tried to point it out in the article. States whose forces commit war crimes is an entirely different classification because they are operating under some guise of legitimacy (i.e. the protection from their government and, realistically, the outcome of the conflict).

The EU labeling Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism seems to be a diplomatic formality and doesn't really do anything that hasn't already been done or said by the EU.

Good question you've asked though.