It makes me wonder if the best deterrence (and perhaps that is the psyops being exercised here) to Putin is to threaten the external (and perhaps internal?) per

It makes me wonder if the best deterrence (and perhaps that is the psyops being exercised here) to Putin is to threaten the external (and perhaps internal?) perception of Russia's military might. If other nations generally start to perceive that Russia isn't able to competently or effectively exercise its military then that is a much bigger strategic loss than some sanctions. It will quickly make the option of negotiating a treaty and taking any small face saving win as a symbolic success look far more attractive than appearing impotent and incompetent and unable to even control a nation directly on its own borders.