Ukraine received assistance in the fight against the pandemic from international partners.

President Donald Trump on Friday urged Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to lower interest rates.

'This would be the IDEAL Time for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to lower interest rates,' Trump said in his post on Truth Social. 'He is always 'late', but now he can change his perception of himself, and quickly. Energy prices are falling, interest rates are falling, inflation is falling, even eggs have dropped by 69%, and jobs are rising, all for two months now - a GREAT WIN for America. LOWER THE INTEREST RATES, JEROME, AND STOP PLAYING POLITICS!'

Powell said at a press conference in March, when the Fed had kept rates unchanged twice in a row, that the central bank is not in a hurry to lower interest rates and will analyze the impact of tariffs from the Trump administration on inflation.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE KEEPS THE KEY INTEREST RATE UNCHANGED IN LIGHT OF UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE ECONOMY, INFLATION

The Federal Reserve's open market committee, which conducts the central bank's monetary policy, noted in its statement on March 19 that '[t]he uncertain economic outlook has increased' and added that it is focused on risks on both sides of its dual mandate to promote maximum employment and maintain inflation at 2% for the long term.

In addition to the interest rate announcement, the Fed published a summary of economic forecasts, showing that central bank policymakers expect two interest rate cuts of 25 basis points this year, followed by two similar cuts in 2026 and one in 2027.

THE INFLATION RATE TARGETED BY THE FED SHOWED PRICE INCREASES IN FEBRUARY

Policymakers predict slow economic growth and an increase in the unemployment rate in 2025 compared to the latest forecasts released in December.

They expect that real gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by 1.7% by the end of 2025, down from the 2.1% estimate, while the unemployment rate is projected to be 4.4% in December, compared to 4.3% in previous forecasts.

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The market expects the Federal Reserve to keep rates unchanged for the third time when it meets in early May. The current target range for the Federal Reserve's federal funds rate stands at 4.25% to 4.5%.

Trump's post precedes Powell's appearance on Friday at the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing conference.