The schizoid policy of the West (in effect, the stark difference in approach between Europe and the US) led to a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" position. Of course the sanctions will galvanize those Russians who would otherwise be undecided regarding the war. On the other hand, the West would be exposed if it imposed sanctions against Russia for annexing Crimea (where it could be argued that Putin had some sort of claim), but ignored an actual invasion of Ukraine.

If the US and Europe could agree on whether to approach or keep their distance from Putin or at the very least had agreed to disagree and went their separate ways (disbanding NATO and forming separate defensive alliances after the dissolution of the USSR) we wouldn't be where we are today.