Russia is the largest country on the globe by area. It is divided into the continents of Asia and Europe, which is to date a big topic of conflict in itself. Even the tectonic plates seem to agree, as Siberia lies on the North-American plate, whereas the rest of Russia belongs to the Eurasian plate. Not to overlook the 'Double-headed Eagle' as the Coat of Arms, with one head facing towards Europe and the other towards Asia.
The signature Matryoshka dolls. Source: https://www.livescience.com/44154-russian-culture.html
The literature and political ongoings suggest an inclination or better say a tendency to bend almost completely towards Europe- raising the question, 'Where is 'Asia' in Russia? To be able to find an answer to this burning question, one needs to travel all the way back to Russia before the Czar's reign.
In the 13th century, the Mongols or Tatars invaded and destroyed all the major cities of Russia, known as 'Kievan Rus'. And subsequent invasions followed. Gradually, the Tatars moved towards the south-west and the northern cities started gaining importance. In the 14th century, Moscow's significance had raised enough to be made as to the spiritual capital by the transfer of the patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Soon, Moscow grew stronger and eventually defeated the Tatars in 1480, and Ivan the Great ruled over Moscow at that time. His grandson, Ivan the Terrible was really terrible in his ripened years of rule. That was the time when conquest and conquer of neighbouring lands from Tatars made Russia a unified state. He adopted the title 'Tsar' in 1547 and his efforts opened the gateway of colonisation of Siberia.
The succeeding heirs were not strong as Ivan the Terrible and the death of Godunov brought in a turbulent time for the state and the nobility declared Michael Romanov as the next Tsar. From here, the Tsarist rule started which lasted for a whopping 304 years until the Russian Revolution toppled the reign.
Peter the Great was the one who sought to westernize Russia. The literature suggests that he reportedly went on a European tour while remaining incognito to study industrialisation, technology, military warfare, and modern battle techniques. It can thus be safely said that it was Peter the Great who brought westernisation to Russia when in 1698, he personally trimmed off the typical Russian style beard of his nobility.
It is mentioned that among his other reforms, he banned the traditional muscovite dress for men, changed the alphabet, altered the church system, manners of the court, and many more other things. He was the one to create St. Petersburg and transfer the capital there from Moscow. In short, Peter the Great sought to modernize the western part of Russia in competition with Europe.
The story till now suggests that the original Russian culture had started gaining importance just before the improper tsar regime. Whereas, by the time Peter the Great came to power, it had been crushed and thrown away. The Tsarist reign had continued in an autocratic mode, which by the 20th century slowly invited the Russian Revolution.
In 1912, the Social Democrats split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks attacked the Tsar's rule when it was facing the heat of World War I on its western face. By the end of 1917, because Russia was not prepared for a World War, the state of civilians and other affairs was in a deplorable state and the smouldering revolutionaries threw up Nicholas Tsar's rule and set up a provisional government in February of 1917.
St. Petersburg during World War II. Source: https://www.dw.com/en/leningrad-the-city-that-refused-to-starve-in-wwii/a-19532957
This saw the advent of communist rule, which promised more freedom and rights to the working class. The Bolsheviks had to struggle their way through the second World War and a raging civil war ahead. To cut long story short, a rule of prominent Communist leaders, the cultural freedom was squeezed and not much emphasis was laid. By the end of 1990, a new issue emerged- the disintegration of the Soviet Union post the Cold War.
Present-day St. Petersburg. Source: https://www.dw.com/en/st-petersburg-marks-75-years-since-nazi-siege-of-leningrad/a-47254112
During a long history of Tsarist and then Communist rule, the leaders have been seen always focusing to make Russia a competent participant of other flourishing European countries. The brief analysis of history in this context now seeks to change the question to 'Whether Russia was ever meant to be even a part of Asia?'
Nevertheless, with the advent of globalization and enough westernization of Russia, it can be actually safely said that present-day Russia is a replica of Europe, which still fights to e preserve its culture and traditions by celebrating festivals like Ivan Kupala and not letting go of the traditional dress, dance, art, and music.