The United States wants to help Ukraine achieve greater energy independence and support the country's European choice, new U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt, who arrived in Kyiv in early August, said in an interview with Radio Liberty.

Among the priorities of his work in the country, he named advancing Ukraine's European choice.

"My second priority is to support Ukraine's aspiration to achieve greater energy independence," Pyatt said.

He recalled that two large American oil companies - ExxonMobil and Chevron – were interested in becoming more involved in Ukraine.

"They want to bring the best of American technology, American know-how and American capital to the Ukrainian energy sector," the diplomat said.

Pyatt expressed the hope that these American companies would make significant investments, which would generate jobs in Ukraine and would allow Ukraine to develop its own natural resources further.

As reported, Pyatt arrived in Kyiv on August 3, 2013 as the eighth United States Ambassador to Ukraine.

Geoffrey R. Pyatt is a Senior Foreign Service officer whose 24-year State Department career has ranged from Asia to Europe and Latin America. Prior to his appointment as ambassador to Ukraine, Pyatt served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the South and Central Asia Affairs Bureau from May 2010 until July 2013.

Previous U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Tefft has held the post since November 20, 2009.