Concept "Visegrad Four + Ukraine": the reality and prospects

The article emphasizes the strengthening role of the Visegrad Four in the geopolitical and geoeconomical space, even after reaching its main goal, which was to integrate member countries into Euro-Atlantic structures. The problem has been raised concerning Ukraine's deep integration with the Visegrad Four groupe as an intermediate stage for the final goal –European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The study is conducted with parallel consideration of the EU eastward enlargement policy. The preconditions for development of integration processes of the Visegrad Four and Ukraine are determined. It was estimated that Ukraine has a tendency to increase foreign trade with the countries of the Visegrad Four. Logic of research is based on the heredity of forms of development of integration processes: traditional, associative and unional. Economic integration of Ukraine into the European Union via the Visegrad Four is considered as an anchor-type cooperation format. The main directions of formation of a roadmap for Ukraine's accession to the EU are proposed. The strategic framework conditions for the transformation of integration processes according to the model "V4 + Ukraine" are defined as the Visegrad Five.