KIEV, April 22 - Ukraine will seek to attract U.S. and European energy companies to modernize and to operate the country’s natural gas transportation system, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said Tuesday.

Yatseniuk made the comments after meeting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Kiev who has come to assure Ukraine in support amid growing fears of armed confrontation with Russia.

“Ukraine is ready for the broadest cooperation in the energy sector with American and European companies,” Yatseniuk said, adding that this will strengthen Ukraine’s energy independence.