ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Mazloum Abdi, chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said on Friday that he, alongside Syria’s foreign minister, held a “positive” meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Munich, discussing the integration process and Syria’s Kurds.

Abdi, sitting alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, met Rubio on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, after tensions between Rojava (northeast Syria) and Damascus de-escalated following weeks of fighting.

“We just had talks with the US Secretary of State also present. Generally, it was positive, we discussed the ongoing integration process and the Kurdish issue and the future of Syria,” Abdi told reporters in Munich.

“It generally went well,” Abdi added, noting that “some issues” remain regarding a holding ceasefire between Rojava and Damascus.

Abdi called the meeting “very productive” in a post on X later in the day, expressing gratitude to the US “for its role in facilitating this agreement and supporting its implementation.”

“We also appreciate the diplomatic efforts that enabled our delegation to participate in the Munich Security Conference as representatives of the Syrian state within its unified national framework,” Abdi added.

Rubio “confirmed that US President Donald Trump places the Syrian file, the integration process, the implementation of agreements, and the fight against terrorism at the top of his priorities,” read a statement from the SDF on the meeting.

In late January, the Kurdish-led Rojava administration and the Syrian government reached an agreement, aimed at halting hostilities and enabling a phased integration process of the Kurdish-led forces into Syrian state institutions.

The agreement followed weeks of clashes between the Syrian Arab Army and its affiliated factions and Kurdish-led forces, which saw Syrian government forces advance on Kurdish-held positions in Rojava.

“We are trying to resolve them,” Abdi said on the Rojava-Damascus pending issues.

The SDF chief also met with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the conference, thanking Paris for its continued support, “particularly its efforts to push for a ceasefire and strengthen stability,” and highlighting “the importance of continued international support… to ensure the implementation of the January 29 agreement and the completion of its provisions in a way that serves the path of integration and stability in Syria.”

“For his part, President Macron affirmed that France will continue its work and efforts in this framework, praising the role played by the Syrian Democratic Forces in combating terrorism and enhancing security and stability in the region,” the SDF statement added.

Despite the ceasefire, the symbolic Kurdish city of Kobane in Rojava remains besieged and lacking basic necessities. On Sunday, a Rojava official told The New Region that the agreement with Damascus “has not brought about any practical change to Kobane.”

During the assault, Syrian forces violated ceasefires, committed human rights violations, and possible war crimes.

Updated at 23:56 with Abdi's X post and meeting with Macron