I read an idea similar to zbychus's one in another forum.
But different parts of it were expressed by different people.
One said it looks to him a cat and mouse game, both pilot and ATC in parallel thinking landing is a no-go and out of the question, but noone willing to say the first "No". Leaving it to the other party to make the move. That ATC has figured out the Polish pilot's difficulty, and that's why allowed him this show "drive", that he'll be able to demonstrate to his superiors that the fog at 100 metres is for real and that he had done all that can be done in such a situation.
At that, note, by the ATC transcripts of all comms' - tel, radio, microphone in the room - no pressure was exerted on the ATC.
Neither by anyone on the pilot, according to the talks in the plane.
The understanding of the situation was simply in the air. No words needed.
The other man in a Russian site (aviation) expressed an opinion that both sides knew landing is out of the question that's why were lax on the procedures, thinking plus/minus a bit does not matter when one doesn't plan to land in the first place.
But that man has also added that , in his view, the Commander suddenly showed up behind pilots' back - said nothing - but the pilot felt like a school-kid, thinking whether the commander understood from the procedures that he has no intention to land at all, that this will only be a drive by to satisfy the audiences, or did he not, and whether the commander is of the same mind, or what, - and this caused his delay and undecisiveness in the last stage.