LONDON 

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, held talks Thursday in London on a wide range of issues and expressed regret at a breakdown of the humanitarian pause in Gaza.   

The leaders discussed geopolitical issues, including the war in Ukraine and immigration as well as the situation in the Middle East, according to a statement by Sunak's office.

"They expressed regret at the breakdown of the pause in fighting to release hostages and agreed that it was vital that more aid was able to get into Gaza, including by exploring new routes," it said.

Sunak and Rutte also agreed on the importance of "preventing regional escalation and a unified effort to prevent attempts to threaten maritime security."

On the war in Ukraine, the British premier reiterated that support for Ukraine “must remain steadfast" throughout the winter and beyond.

The leaders agreed on the vital importance of "tackling the scourge of illegal migration," while agreeing to continue to work together through the Calais Group and bilaterally tackle the issue.

Sunak thanked outgoing Prime Minister Rutte for his leadership over the last 13 years as the Netherlands' longest-serving premier.