OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Conservatives of using a "frankly absurd excuse" to vote against the updated Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement, and said that "all Canadians should be concerned" about the Opposition turning its back to Ukraine.

Conservatives have dismissed any suggestions that they do not support Ukraine's fight against Russia or that they do not support free trade, after they voted against C-57, a bill that would implement a revised trade deal between Canada and Ukraine, earlier this week.