Faced with the accusations, Ponomarenko expressed self-criticism. Soon, however, he and his team were recalled. In the position of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPB, he was replaced by Nikolai Gusarov. From 16 October 1952 until 6 March 1953, Ponomarenko was a member of the Politburo (called Presidium at the time) of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.From 12 December 1952 to 15 March 1953, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR for the procurement of agricultural products and agricultural raw materials. After the death of Joseph Stalin, he fell into temporary disgrace.