Pro-Putin Russian pranksters fool Fed chief Powell by posing as Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky 

The chief of the U.S. central bank has been duped by Russian pranksters posing as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

An online video shows Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov discussing the global economy with Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell. 

The video was broadcast on state television in Russia and the two self-styled comics are known to be supporters of Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin.

The Russian comics have regularly posed as the Ukrainian president to reach some of the world’s most powerful people to discuss the economic impact of Moscow’s invasion

It shows Powell answering questions from a man he believes to be Ukraine’s wartime leader ranging from the outlook for the U.S. economy to Russian monetary policy. 

‘We would tell you a recession is almost as likely,’ the 70-year-old said. ‘I think it’s partly because of us having raised rates quite a bit, but this is what it takes to get inflation down.’

‘The market is already pricing in two more quarter percentage point rate hikes. We’ll look around after we make those two and we’ll see should we do any more,’ he added.

The video was filmed in January and officials at the Fed said Powell’s remarks do not differ from any of his public statements.

But the stunt by the pro-Kremlin comedians will raise security concerns about how they managed to get through to one of the most senior officials in the U.S. 

They managed to trick Powell’s European counterpart, Christine Lagarde, who chairs the European Central Bank, earlier this year. 

The pair, known as Vovan and Lexus, have previously pulled off spoof calls with other world leaders in the past.

Previous victims include ex-German leader Angela Merkel and Andrzej Duda, the president of Poland, and Ben Wallace, the British defense minister.

Officials close to Powell said the call was authentic and said it was being investigated by law enforcement authorities in the U.S. 

A spokesman for the Federal Reserve confirmed that the call took place and refused to deny that the video was authentic.

 ‘Chair Powell participated in a conversation in January with someone who misrepresented himself as the Ukrainian president,’ he said.

‘It was a friendly conversation and took place in a context of our standing in support of the Ukrainian people in this challenging time. No sensitive or confidential information was discussed.’

The Fed said the matter had now been referred to law enforcement authorities and declined to make any further comments.