lara: this is "focus on europe." i'm lara babalola, welcome to the show. solidarity with ukraine is strong in much of europe and beyond. but in russia, the picture looks very different. that's partly due to the news that's consumed by people living there. state television and social media accounts spread president putin's praganda and misinformation. and it appears to be working -- a survey by an independent russian polling group shows that more than 75% of people there support the war.

not long ago, a large majority of russians also supported him -- latvian singer intarsch busulis. for years, he entertained millions on russian tv. he was a celebrated star with a huge fan base. but when putin invaded ukraine, intarsch drew a line in the sand. he became critical of the kremlin and many of his russian fans have turned on him. but in his homeland of latvia, intarsch is largely celebrated for his stance against putin. solidarity with ukraine is especially strong there, and so too is the fear of their powerful neighbor. >> intarsch busulis performed on russia's celebrity circuit, even playing the kremlin for a show seen on the state-run channels. the latvian pop-singer was a star in russia. [applause]

for years, he went on concert tours across the vast country, singing in russian. he loves the culture and people, and celebrated them in his performances. ♪ >> i still can't quite believe it's all over, that i might not go back there for the next 50 years, and i won't have any concerts there. i hope my russian fans don't take it personally. but as long as putin's regime is in power, i'm not coming.

♪ >> busulis' concerts earned him plenty of money, even after russia's annexation of crimea in violation of international law. this performance was on the biggest network, channel one russia. >> lots of people are blaming me. i know, i know, i'm guilty. but i really loved it. i loved the big concert halls, the big audiences, the millions of people, the support. ♪ >> but then came the war -- and a change of heart for the 44-year-old popstar. we talked with him in his studio. intarsch busulis is now recording a song for peace, for ukraine. he's taking a stance at long

last, as many here in latvia are saying. he's started posting information and videos about the war on his social-media channels. he wants to confront his russian fans with the reality of the invasion. to show the death and devastation which they don't see on strictly state-controlled russian tv. the images shocked his fans -- and many reacted. >> it's a huge paradox. the biggest fans who wrote the nicest comments have turned into the biggest enemies. they've gone crazy, attacking me. >> it isn't without risk for busulis. we filmed at his barn, but he asked us not to show where he lives, because those who consume russian state media

live in their own echo chamber. nearly a quarter of latvians are ethnically russian. putin's propaganda has reached the baltic republic, driving a wedge through the population. on may 9, the day marking victory over nazi germany, tens of thousands lay flowers at soviet memorials in riga. many of them support the war of aggression against ukraine, which russian propaganda has portrayed as a battle against nazism. busulis has experienced the consequences of this propaganda personally. on the streets of his own hometown, he's taken abuse from people accusing him of spreading lies about russia. >> they curse at me. but i say to them, "friend, it's all fine, i understand you. don't worry, it's not your

fault for thinking that. you're a victim of propaganda." >> intarsch busulis wants to change his fans' perspective. he hopes they'll open their eyes to what is happening. after the war, he'd like to take his children along to one of his concerts in russia. but only if it's a different russia, without putin. lara: fields of gold -- ukraine's wheat and corn fields are a vital pillar of the economy. countries in europe and far beyond rely on exports of the cereal grains. but with ports and infrastructure destroyed by russian bombs, a world hunger crisis is looming. and ukrainian farmer alexei lissitsa is in survival mode. his granaries are full but he

can't export their contents. with his finances dwindling and the front line drawing near, alexei fears his wheat and cornfields will soon become battlefields. >> for alexey lissitsa, desperation has led to determination -- determination to survive. the farm he runs in northern ukraine was attacked by russia in the ely stages of the war. >> if you look at the silo, you can see lots of holes with different shapes and sizes. some rockets were fired straight into the buildings. there was a fire here, that was a bomb. i feel hatred towards the russians. >> there could still be russian rockets inside the silo -- alexei doesn't know how many, or if they could still explode.

the invading forces were just 200 meters from the farm during the attack. he vowed not to surrender his harvest, supplies, or fuel reserves. >> we made an agreement with the manager -- if the russians entered, we were going to blow up our 200 tons of diesel. it was all prepared. >> last year, ukraine saw a record harvest. there was more than farmers could sell. like many others, alexei was expecting solid profits. but now, the russian attack has damaged his corn. and that's not the only problem. >> we thought we were sitting on money, because corn is money. but right now, it's not worth anything because we can't transport or export it. we can get by for maybe three or four more months, that's it. >> ukraine has been struggling to export much of its produce. the port city of odessa is under attack.

further east, mariupol lies in ruins. no cargo can get out. the romanian port of constanta could be an ternative, but poor rail lines will make transporting goods there challenging. the system was not prepared for the levels of disruption the war is causing. the port also lacks the capacity to ship out the hundreds of thousands of tons of ukrainian-grown wheat, corn and sunflower seeds. ukraine's farmers are facing more than just export problems. as alexei shows us, rockets have rained down on fields everywhere. he can only plant on 3,000 hectares of his 30,000-hectare farm. >> russia is a brutal enemy that wants to annihilate us. >> here, in southern ukraine, near zaporhzhia, locals fear for their lives. vitalii lupinos runs an agricultural company. he and his staff are worried --

it's the last week of the sowing season, but the frontline is just a kilometer away. >> there were more attacks at 5:00 a.m. this morning. we were worried because the area came under fire. but we have to work. we can't let down our government or our people. we need to feed our families, our armed forces, ukraine and the whole world. >> if farmers can't grow crops, they won't eat. and if they can't export produce, they're left with no income. but for many, the biggest concern is simply staying alive. roman is listening for the sound s of shots. there's a constant fear that the enemy might advance. >> sure, i'm scared, like any normal person. >> if these monsters come, we'll park our tractors, grab our machine guns -- excuse me -- shoot these freaks.

>> vitalii shows us a video of rockets that landed on his field. they can only be removed after experts have safely deactivated them. already, the piles of munitions are building up. and nobody knows how many more dangers may be lurking in the soil. it's a worry whenever andreii ploughs the fields. >> i can't hear anything up here in my cabin. i have to look outside to see what the others are doing. if there's no frantic waving and shouting, everything is fine. if there's a situation, i'll need to get out and run for my life. >> it's hard to imagine working under these conditions. on top of everything else, fuel is running low. they borrow what they can from neighbors, other farmers who have stopped working because of the war. if worst comes to worst, they plan to protect themselves from the bombs and rockets in this purpose-built shelter.

>> herwe can at least keep our boys safe for a while. there's one and a half meters of clay above our heads, an oven to keep us warm, and drinking water. we can survive for a while. >> none of them want to flee. there work -- their work for the next harvest continues, for ukraine as well as for export to europe and the world. even if their immediate goal is simply to stay safe. lara: the struggle to survive has also touched this young man's heart. arthur soufflet is a 13-year-old from france. he dedicates his time to painting, not only because it feels good but also because it brings good. arthur sells his paintings to the homeless. if an initiative he started many years ago after an encounter with a homeless person. with each painting, arthur hopes to make the world a

little better. >> arthur soufflet is 13 years old and a budding artist. >> for now, i'm going to use a bit of black. then i'll add other colors so that there's a good contrast. when i paint, i feel calmer. >> but arthur doesn't paint just for the sake of it. how did you get the idea? >> i was little. we were on holiday -- yes, i was still in mummy's tummy and we were in st. tropez and arthur saw someone for the first time. >> saint-tropez or saint-malo? >> saint-malo. he saw someone living on the street. >> i wanted to help the people on the street and i didn't know how. but i saw some artists on the beach and i thought i could do the same. so i started painting in the sand and using little stones.

and i earned money to buy them something. >> children, breakfast. >> arthur has been painting to raise funds for homeless people for almost 10 years. the whole family is on board - - but it can be tough at times. >> there are some really strong moments. >> like when we drew with claudio. >> yes, claudio. a wonderful homeless person. we often went to find him. he had an artist's soul. >> even though he was in the street, he had courage and continued to draw. he did what he wanted to do. i thought that was really beautiful. >> this afternoon, arthur is displaying some of his works for sale in an artist-run gallery. not everyone encourages what he's doing. >> some people think it's too much for me, that i should stop.

>> what do you say then? >> i pretend to listen to them but in my mind i just say no. >> mostly, arthur has fans though, like 8-year-old victor, who's here with his grandmother. >> i think what he does is good. i really like his paintings. >> do you want to do that too? well, i actually prefer >> -- sculpture. >> he does sculpture with me. he thinks he could make small works. >> or big ones! >> arthur and his family will use the money raised to buy food. here they're on their way to the city of douai in northern france, where 20% of the population lives below the poverty line.

a third more than the national average. they're meeting coralie dubuisson, a social worker and family friend, and ludovic lefebvre, a homeless man. >> hi. >> mr. lefebvre is an alcoholic. he's been homeless for four years. his situation is challenging, but arthur refuses to lose hope. >> i'm unhappy. >> of course. >> i lost a good friend of mine. >> the authorities have to be informed of your situation so they can help you. >> i don't think they're really interested. >> mr. lefebvre has been living in his car for months. he's filled it with blankets and made a home for himself. >> arthur, come sit in my realm. >> arthur brings some light to

a dark situation. >> you're the king here. >> no. i'm not the king of anything. >> of your life? >> well, you at least should live life to the full. >> what does it mean to have arthur at your side? >> a lot. it warms my heart. purpose i think you're going to find a way out. come on, get up. > you've taught me a lot. thanks. >> you too! >> arthur may not have changed mr lefebvre's situation.

but he has shown him that there is someone out there who believes in him, and who cares about people experiencing homelessness. lara: for marijuana smokers in europe, the netherlands is a big draw. along with a cappuccino, you can also order a joint in many dutch coffee shops. it's a business model that's only half-legal -- coffee shops get a special license that allows them to sell small amounts of weed. it's not technically legal, but it is tolerated by the authorities. well, now the dutch government wants to regulate this legal grey zone with an experiment: marijuana grown under state control. >> images like these have become a stereotype of the netherlands. it's perfectly legal to buy a joint here, if it's for the customer's personal use. this coffee shop in breda has been around for 30 years. but now, there's going to be a radical change.

the shop will no longer have to source its cannabis from drug dealers. instead, it will be able to buy from a state-controlled crop. owner ed pattche thinks it's a good development. >> it's cleaner. no pesticides are used. there are strict cultivation rules. it's ecological and sustainable and above all, legal. for the first time, we'll be able to do our buying on the books. >> the experiment is taking place in breda and nine other municipalities. it's been put in place to combat the fact that the netherlands has become a hub for dbeuse of its ports.use of violent criminal gangs control hard drugs, like cocaine. in july 2021, dutch investigative journalist peter de vries was murdered after

reporting on drug crime. authorities want to at least gain control over the soft drug market. >> we hope this experiment will put an end to a half-baked policy of tolerance. you can buy and sell cannabis in a coffee shop, but you're not allowed to produce it. that's led to an illegal market for production, dominated by criminals. >> the question now is how the state-controlled cannabis harvest will get safely to the coffee shops. >> transport is still a problem. an armored vehicle will bring the hash. i'm not sure how i'm supposed to feel about that. >> the experiment is due to run for four years, after which the results from the 10 participating municipalities will be evaluated. lara: for centuries, italians have

been perfecting the art of pizza making. hand-kneaded dough, a stone oven and the finest ingredients are required. pizza is a part of italy's national identity. but this tradition is now being challenged by new technology in rome -- a pizza vending machine. an affront to some restaurant owners in the capital city. but the machine's creator says he's bringing a little slice of heaven to the streets of rome. >> this is an old-school pizzaiolo. >> welcome to pizzeria remo, the best in rome! >> and this is a pizza seller of the new school. >> welcome to mister go -- i'll show you how it works. >> his business concept? pizza in three minutes, from a machine. massimo bucolo normally sells medical equipment. but he's always dreamt of running a pizzeria. he wanted it to be different,

so he looked around until he found a pizza-making machine. he re-designed it to function without a baker, using only the touch of a button. here in the eternal city, it's nothing less than a cultural revolution. >> the city was divided. some accepted the machine and thought it was good to be able to buy a fresh, hot pizza 24 hours a day. pizza from a machine was always something inconceivable, especially in a country like italy and even more so in cities like rome, not to mention naples. here, pizza is sacred. some people were pretty angry, because it was like an attack on the art of the pizza. >> this one is hand-made using the best ingredients and raw muscle. pasquale has been making them for over 40 years. >> one pizza napoli to go, coming up!

>> i've heard of the machine. but i can''t believe it can make a pizza like mine! this dough is hand-made. there's the wood-burning oven and the ash you have to clean out. a robot could never do that -- you can forget it! >> the key is how you knead the dough. you have to get out all the lumps with your hands. look, this is all handmade. the flour, the yeast, the salt, and then you work it like this" >> with the mister go machine, it's all automatic. pizza after pizza. >> the flour goes into this cylinder, where it's mixed with water and a little salt. then, the dough is pressed into

a disk and covered with fresh tomato sauce. then comes the oven. a metal hand positions the pizza on the grill, wherit's baked at80 degrees celsius. >> pasquale's pizza is now done. >> now, the pizza is perfect. enjoy the flavor! >> remo has been serving up hundreds of pizzas every evening for over 40 years. the customers here would never consider trading one of pasquale's pizzas for a machine-made one, not even the youngest. >> a pizza has to be made by hand, just like this one, especially when it comes to the dough. if you let a machine do it, the pizza will never taste like one that's been made by the hands of a pizzaiolo.

>> so far, mister go has made over 7000 pizzas, around the clock. sometimes even a roman will take the machine-made alternative. >> if i want to eat a really good pizza, of course i wouldn't turn to mister go. rome has hundreds of pizzerias that make great pizza. but if i want to eat something fast, or i just want to try something new out of curiosity, mister go is always there. especially after midnight, it's hard to find something warm to eat. then we're a great alternative. >> massimo has improved his design. his new machines will soon be cooking even better pizzas. demand is high, especially from abroad. in italy itself, not quite so much. lara so, is it a recipe for success? let me know your thoughts about our stories on twitter. you can find me at larababalola_. don't forget you can also watch more of our show on dw.com.

thanks for watching. bye for now.

06/30/22 06/30/22 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy: from new york, this is democracy now! pres. biden: together our allies, we're going to make sure nato is ready to meet the threats of in all directions across every domain, land, air, and the sea. amy: as a major nato summit in madrid, spain, the united states