So, is the "great ship" already on the horizon? Captain Xi has come out on deck, Trump is throwing him a rope, and Putin from below is asking not to be forgotten.It's tempting to give a verbatim quote from Xi Jinping, the geopolitical sea captain, before his meeting with Trump: "Amidst winds, waves, and challenges, we must maintain the right course, navigate a complex environment, and ensure the steady advancement of the great ship of China-U.S. relations."So, the next stop is April. And that means: it's time to stop standing on the shore with binoculars and get into a boat to Beijing. Because, it seems, Russia has long been sitting inside, and not in economy class. We urgently need to strengthen our diplomatic team and try to get at least an audience with 2-3 secretaries of the Central Committee. We absolutely need to talk to the Chinese about preparing for a meeting with Trump in April next year."Apparently, the White House wants to shift the resolution of the "Putin question" to Xi. But the problem is that Xi and Putin signed a strategic marriage for 30 years – without the right to early termination."However, there are nuances: Xi does not want to remain the only "bad guy" in the film when Russia is taken out of circulation. Because then all the efforts of the U.S., EU, and G7 will be directed only at containing China.It is beneficial for China to have Russia as a functioning "gas station," not as a dilapidated refueling point. It benefits from a weakened Russia with cheap energy resources, but not a collapse of the regime, because then there will be new risks and instability on the border.If Xi "sells out" Putin, other partners will think: "Can China be trusted at all?" And this will be a signal to others: "China is unstable and does not guarantee long-term agreements."And this is where we, Ukraine, must enter the bridge of negotiations. We need to formulate a new proposal for China that compensates for these risks and at the same time allows it to save face.What can we offer China to make it look good and profitable?Guarantees of non-proliferation of war: Ukraine can act as a guaranteed buffer of stability in the Eurasian space – with China's support.Participation in post-war reconstruction: China will gain access to key infrastructure projects in Ukraine.Food security: Ukraine can remain a key partner for China in the agricultural sector.Transport hub: China gets a favorable logistics point for exports to Europe through Ukraine.Public diplomacy: China changes its status from "sponsor of a despot" to "peacemaker."The moves on the global chessboard again have countless options. We cannot be mere extras. Because if someone is steering a great ship out of a storm, it is desirable that we at least stand next to them on the captain's bridge, and not wave from the shore.SourceAbout the author. Viktor Shlinchak, Chairman of the Board of the Institute of World Policy.The editorial board does not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.