The Ukrainian Embassy in Lebanon on Friday issued a statement to clarify why it believes that flour and barley aboard a Syrian-flagged ship docked in Lebanon’s Tripoli had been “stolen” from Ukraine.

“During the Russian occupation, more than 500,000 tons of grain were stolen from the occupied Kherson, Zaporizhia and Mykolaiv region,” it said.

Prime Minister-designate and caretaker PM Najib Mikati on Friday said that he is seeking to “halt the collapse” of the country.

“We need to address a lot of social issues and to organize the living matters and salaries so that we launch the rescue process and revive Lebanon,” Mikati said during his sponsorship of the launch of a touristic campaign in Tripoli.

U.S. President Joe Biden has extended the so-called U.S. National Emergency with respect to Lebanon.

“Certain ongoing activities, such as Iran’s continuing arms transfers to Hezbollah -- which include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems -- serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic instability in the region, and continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” Biden said in a statement, explaining what prompted the extension.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib revealed Friday that Lebanon has received “a number of protests and warnings from a number of Western countries” after a Syrian-flagged ship carrying wheat and barley arrived at Tripoli’s port on Thursday.

“The relevant authorities in Lebanon are currently examining the ship and Lebanon has not yet managed to identify the source of the material it is carrying,” Bou Habib added, noting that the appropriate decision would be taken later.

The Russian Embassy in Lebanon denied Friday any knowledge of a Syrian cargo ship that has docked in the port of Tripoli with "stolen grain from Ukraine."

Ukraine said the ship, sanctioned by the United States, carried 5,000 tons of flour and 5,000 tons of barley stolen by Russian from the war-torn country. The ship, Laodicea, was initially heading to Tartus Port in Syria, and was expected to arrive there earlier this week.

Free Patriotic Movement said Friday, in a video post on social video, that what is happening in Parliament is sad.

"First, there is disrespect and impoliteness between the MPs," Bassil said, adding that the Parliament is not "productive."

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said Friday that smuggling is the common factor between the multiple crises in Lebanon.

Geagea mentioned, in a post on social media, the economic collapse, the fuel crisis, the Akkar tragic explosion and the bread crisis.

France and Saudi Arabia stressed Friday, in a joint statement, the two countries' support for the sovereignty, security and stability of Lebanon.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had talked over dinner Thursday about regional crises including the war in Yemen and Iran's nuclear program.

The Israeli cabinet is holding a meeting on Sunday to discuss the maritime border demarcating with Lebanon and Hezbollah's threats, an Israeli media report said.

On Sunday, U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein is scheduled to arrive in Lebanon with a response to Lebanon's demands. Lebanese and Israeli media reports have said that the solution to the border dispute is near and that Hochstein will present a framework for an agreement.

Israeli Energy Minister Karen Elharrar said Thursday that Israel is not negotiating with Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah over sea border demarcation with Lebanon.