Friends may hug or kiss on the cheek to greet, but Russians are generally limited in their physical contact. Strong physical affection is generally only seen between couples of opposite genders.
Be strong and firm from the word go
We did say that Russian women are strong-willed, and so you should be too. You need to be firm, and sure of what you are doing. Take charge of the first date like you own it, and you surely do. Choose the venue and the time and then ask her whether she will be available.
Я люблю тебя всем сердцем. / Я люблю тебя всей душой. I love you with all my heart. / I love you with all my soul. Reserve this phrase for the highest degree of your love. Я тебя обожаю.
Я тебя люблю (I love you)
This is the clearest and most direct way to express it. You can choose to change the word order and say “Я люблю тебя,” but there's no significant difference in the meaning. Some Russians prefer to emphasize the last word in a sentence, thus “Я тебя люблю” may be preferred.
Eye Contact: Making eye contact is a show of respect in Russian culture and is highly valued. When conversing to someone, it is considered polite to keep eye contact and direct your look at the other person.
When you want to chat with a Russian girl, try to look for something interesting about her in her account. If you want to win her heart, speak about something in her profile or a prevalent interest you may have. This will show her that you are enthusiastic about her.
There's a well-known Russian greeting tradition: the triple cheek-kiss. It's usually common between close relatives. Sometimes, it's shortened to two kisses. One cheek kiss is often used by girls to greet friends, or even close female coworkers.
Russian etiquette: greetings
Close male friends hug and pat each other's back. In short, when meeting a Russian for the first time, male or female, good etiquette is shaking hands firmly while retaining eye contact. Looking away is rude and shows indifference.
A Russian woman likes it when her partner is interesting and cheerful; they do not tolerate boring men, so don't be afraid to be cheerful and laugh. They like when a man cheers her up, but does not tolerate if he laughs at her.
The socialist fraternal kiss is a special greeting that was used in the USSR and eastern european countries since the October Revolution of 1917. The greeting consists of a hug followed by three kisses on the cheeks.
In Russia, beauty standards are very different from what we're used to in the West. In general, Russian women are expected to be slim and beautiful with perfect skin, hair, and teeth. They are also expected to dress well and wear lots of makeup.
Stereotypical physical characteristics of Russian people include a broader nose, dark blond eyebrows, fair skin, and a round face. There are a number of factors that contribute to these characteristics. In cultural stereotypes, Russian people are also seen as being individualistic, hard-working, honest, and generous.
Always show heightened respect to those who are older than you. It's common to adopt a more formal demeanour. Offer your seat to an elderly person, pregnant woman or woman with a small child if they do not have one. Men are expected to open doors for women, pay for their food, help them carry items, etc.