Why We Didn't Provoke Pootin?

i fear the war on folds in the way that i fear it's going to unfold. The united states is gradually learning, but too slowly, the limits of sanctions as a weapon. I have always wondered why the west appeases dictators both in moscow and terran so much. Is it these regimes affectad propaganda and lobby in the west economic interest reall politique? Or are they just spineless and are afraid to escalate, even when tanks are rolling on their border?