إِذَا الْتَقَى الْخِتَانَانِ وَتَوَارَتِ الْحَشَفَةُ وَجَبَ الْغُسْلُ، أَنْزَلَ أَوْ لَمْ يُنْزِلْ
Translation: When the relevant parts meet and the glans is concealed, ghusl is required, whether ejaculation occurs or not.
The operative cause here is intercourse meeting the defined legal threshold.