Justin Trudeau has apologized for an off-hand remark he made on a popular Quebec TV show that some interpreted as making light of the bloody conflict in Ukraine.

The Liberal leader drew criticism from top Conservative cabinet ministers and the Ukrainian ambassador on Monday after his pre-taped appearance on Radio Canada's "Tout le Monde en Parle" — a show known for its humour and cheeky irreverence — was broadcast over the weekend.

At one point, Trudeau linked the unrest in Ukraine to Russia's Olympic hockey disappointment, joking that Russians may be fuming after failing to medal.

"It's very worrisome,'' Trudeau said after telling the panel that he now considers Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to be illegitimate. "Especially since Russia lost in hockey, they will be in a bad mood. We are afraid of a Russian intervention in Ukraine.''

After he was pressed by a host about his hockey quip, Trudeau said he was just trying to "bring a light view of a situation that is extremely serious."

Employment Minister Jason Kenney, Industry Minister James Moore and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander all pounced on the remark as proof the Grit leader is, as Tory attack ads suggest, in over his head.

"Trudeau apparently thinks the situation in Ukraine is something to joke about,'' Alexander said at press conference in Ottawa.

"We don't and we are concerned that there is not just one statement of this quality, there's a pattern here of support for communist dictatorship, of belief in ... budgets balancing themselves and now of whimsical comments, offensive comments about Ukraine's future based on the result of a hockey game in Sochi.''

The NDP also posted a video of Trudeau's remarks to YouTube.