Definitely European. Russia is descendant from a state founded by the Vikings. It adopted a religion of the Roman Empire. The word 'Czar' is cognate with the word "Caesar". Russians are white and speak a language that is similar to Polish, Bulgarian, Serbian and others in the Slavic group. The Russian state has played an important role in Europe politics for centuries and has had strong cultural and economic ties to the rest of Europe. At one point, Russia was ruled by a German princess. Much of Russian elite were more comfortable conversing in French with one another than in Russian.

Mongol cultural influences on Russia are fairly minor. The Mongols never ruled Russia directly. They appointed local leaders who would have the power to collect taxes on their behalf.