U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt has said that the United States will support the candidate who is elected by the Ukrainian people in early presidential elections on May 25.

"We support the candidate chosen by the Ukrainian people through a free and fair election," he said in an interview with the parliament's Rada television channel on Thursday.

Pyatt said that this was "the most important election in the history of independent Ukraine."

He also said he hoped that one of the largest teams of international observers would monitor the elections in Ukraine. He said that observers would represent the OSCE, political parties, including U.S. parties, and non-governmental organizations.

"Whoever emerges from that free and fair process will enjoy the strong support of the United States," Pyatt said.