# Acting U.S. Sanctions Chief Joins Kushner and Witkoff in Moscow for Talks With Putin Envoy

*Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 6:14 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-09-06T06:14:27.216Z (2h ago)
**Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Eastern Europe
**Importance**: 8/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/17025.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Acting U.S. sanctions czar Gene Lange joined Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Moscow for talks with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev, Axios reports, signaling that sanctions relief was part of discussions with Russia.

An unusual gathering of American officials and political insiders in Moscow has drawn attention to how U.S. sanctions policy toward Russia may feature in back-channel talks about ending the war.

According to Axios, acting U.S. sanctions czar Gene Lange traveled to the Russian capital alongside Jared Kushner and real estate investor Steve Witkoff. Lange took part in preparatory discussions with Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy to President Vladimir Putin. Axios reported that Lange did not attend the meeting with Putin himself.

As the official overseeing U.S. sanctions, Lange is responsible for one of Washington’s main tools of pressure on Russia. His participation in advance talks alongside Kushner and Witkoff suggests that sanctions relief, or at least adjustment, is being considered as part of a wider diplomatic effort.

Axios also reported that officials from the U.S. National Security Council, State Department, and Treasury participated in the broader negotiations with Russia. The outlet said plans for next steps aimed at ending the war would be announced in the coming weeks, but did not provide details.

The involvement of Kushner and Witkoff, who do not hold U.S. government office, adds a layer of complexity and raises questions about the mix of official and informal channels in contact with Moscow.

Signals to watch include any official U.S. statements clarifying Lange’s role in Moscow, reactions from Ukraine’s leadership to discussions that could involve sanctions, public hints from the Kremlin about what it seeks in return for concessions, and whether concrete diplomatic or battlefield moves follow the planned announcement of next steps.