Interregional Cooperation as a Mechanism for Diversifying Foreign Trade Risks in Crisis Conditions

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive study of interregional interaction as a stabilizing instrument for economic processes under conditions of systemic foreign trade threats caused by the full-scale aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine. It is emphasized that in the context of disrupted logistics networks, the loss of cross-border routes, the breakdown of traditional sales channels, and institutional uncertainty, horizontal formats of cooperation between regions can enable adaptive recovery of the functionality of the export-oriented sector. Interregional engagement in the field of foreign trade is examined not only as a means of compensating for losses but also as a driver of new synergistic processes of economic reconfiguration within the national space.

The author formulates the theoretical and conceptual foundations of interregional cooperation based on a neo-institutionalist approach, risk theory, and spatial economics. A structural map of foreign trade threats is synthesized, highlighting regional types of vulnerability, which made it possible to develop a spatial matrix of cooperative potential. The study identifies four scenario-based strategies of regional interaction: logistics-compensatory, export-integrative, specialization-clustered, and digital-platform-based. For each of these, the conditions of effectiveness, sectoral and spatial features, expected scaling dynamics, and organizational prerequisites are analyzed.

Special attention is given to the criteria for strategic selection, presented in the form of a multifactor assessment system that includes risk intensity, logistics accessibility, sectoral composition, institutional readiness, digital maturity, and financial support. A conceptual model for optimizing interregional cooperation is proposed, based on the alignment of spatial profiles and complementary resources. The study underscores the need to revise national policy, shifting from a decentralization-oriented paradigm to a strategic platform for sustainable development grounded in horizontal regional integration. The results offer applied value for designing post-war economic recovery scenarios, modeling integrated logistics networks, forming export-oriented clusters, and developing digital tools for regional strategic planning.