Cheek kissing is the most common greeting in Russia now. It is ”a ritual or social gesture to indicate friendship, perform a greeting, to confer congratulations, to comfort someone, or to show respect.” Cheek kissing has become a standard greeting all over Southern Europe. While cheek kissing is a common greeting in many cultures, each country has a unique way in which they do so. In Russia it is customary to ”kiss three times, on alternate cheeks.”

The hand kiss is sometimes used as a romantic gesture, usually in parting. It could be used to convey a feeling of a more traditional and emotional attraction, rather than a superficial one that has become a stereotype of the twenty-first century. This could be misconstrued as a parody or mockery of the original gesture, and indeed at times it may be used as such, but this must not be seen as the sole intention. It would certainly not be mockery for a man saying goodnight to his girlfriend to kiss her hand, but a person who greatly exaggerated the practice would be clearly seen as mocking it.

The air kiss is a ritual or social gesture whose meaning is basically the same as that of many forms of kissing. The air kiss is a pretence of kissing: the lips are pursed as if kissing, but without actually touching the other person's body. Sometimes the air kiss includes touching cheek-to-cheek. Also, the gesture may be accompanied by the mwah sound.

But Never kiss your girl on her forehead. Kissing someone on their forehead is reserved for funerals. Kissing a loved one at the funeral reception is a tradition.
And do not shake hands or kiss across the threshold of the door step; this is traditionally bad luck for Russians.